The now-cancelled MMORPG that was code-named “Project BlackBird” by developers at ZeniMax Media would have been an impressive spectacle, as per the words of one of its top creators. The development of this anticipated game was halted approximately two months ago, according to reports from Microsoft, leaving gaming enthusiasts to lament the potential loss of a remarkable title in Eric Whelpley, ZeniMax’s principal service engineer, opinion.
In early July, Microsoft conducted a substantial round of job cuts, dismissing approximately 9,000 employees from its team. This move affected various development studios, including ZeniMax, with the workforce reduction reportedly impacting about one in every 25 developers within the corporation.
ZeniMax’s Project Blackbird Could Have Been Amazing
News of numerous games under development being scrapped coincided with reports of mass layoffs. Although it was previously unannounced, the supposed cancellation of ZeniMax’s MMORPG generated widespread attention, joining headlines with titles such as Everwild and the Perfect Dark reboot. Whelpley, in early September, confirmed the cancellation on his LinkedIn account. He described the game as exceptionally impressive across various aspects like technology, art, sound, movement, story, and more, stating that it would have captivated many players, further emphasizing this by revealing he played it daily until production halted.
Swallowing the news of cancellation proved to be quite difficult for Whelpley for multiple reasons. Initially, he had been with ZeniMax for seven long years, and his dismay was not just personal but also extended to the development team members who devoted their enthusiasm towards crafting the game. Furthermore, this cancellation announcement came barely over a year following Xbox’s decision to abandon Redfall, another project that Whelpley worked on since its early stages through post-release, leading to the closure of Arkane Austin. The vampire FPS, unfortunately, met with widespread criticism by both players and critics, surviving for just a single year. However, ZeniMax boasts an impressive track record when it comes to MMORPGs, having also developed The Elder Scrolls Online.
According to recent whispers, it appears that ZeniMax’s MMORPG project was put aside to focus on what might be “Fallout 5”. The acquisition of the “Fallout” franchise by Bethesda in 2007 has resulted in two primary games and several spin-offs. However, a mainline game hasn’t been released in almost a decade, just shy of two months. In a confidential Microsoft gathering, an official supposedly mentioned that the game was terminated as part of a larger strategic plan. Although “Fallout 5” wasn’t explicitly mentioned during this discussion, the timing of the revelation has led Jez Corden, who reported this, to infer that resources are being shifted from “Project Blackbird” to work on a potential new installment in the “Fallout” series.
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2025-09-04 01:51